Who should go all-in on Kevin Durant?

[Dan Z]

Lowkey Denver...MPJ/Bones/picks


Murray
KCP
Gordon
KD
Joker

Bruce Brown 6th man

Why would the Nets trade for a player (MPJ) who missed almost all of last season and has a history of injury concerns?

Also, the Nuggets owe picks to other teams until 2027. The earliest first they can trade is 2029.

[The Rebel]

Denver owes a 2023 first round pick to Charlotte, a 2025 first round pick to Orlando and a 2027 first round pick to OKC.

https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/future_drafts/detailed

"The Stepien Rule" says that an NBA team is prohibited from being without first-round picks in back-to-back years.

Thank you for the link. In that case I think it would be easy to outbid Denver. I'm curious to hear the take of Nugget fans, but to me, it's poor asset management. A team that's so close to contending, and isn't a historical FA destination, should not be this restricted with their future picks, especially considering the return they got for those picks.

I know Denver's 2025 pick was used to get Aaron Gordon. Their 2027 pick was traded, along with JaMychal Green, for the #30 pick in 2022 plus two future second round picks. I'm not sure about their 2023 pick (which is owed to Charlotte).

The 2023 pick was traded for RJ Hampton, who was sent out in the Gordon trade.

[ILOVEIT]

Pelicans or Warriors

[The Rebel]

Wow is that so?

Denver owes a 2023 first round pick to Charlotte, a 2025 first round pick to Orlando and a 2027 first round pick to OKC.

https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/future_drafts/detailed

"The Stepien Rule" says that an NBA team is prohibited from being without first-round picks in back-to-back years.

Thank you for the link. In that case I think it would be easy to outbid Denver. I'm curious to hear the take of Nugget fans, but to me, it's poor asset management. A team that's so close to contending, and isn't a historical FA destination, should not be this restricted with their future picks, especially considering the return they got for those picks.

MPJ put up 22 and 7 on 70% TS% in the 24 games after Murray got injured, prior to injury Murray was putting up 21 and 5 on 65% TS% and had proven to be a big game performer. That is 3 guys more than capable of scoring 20+ points a night, and considering we have the Joker than we have no choice to go all in. Sure there is some risk with MPJ's back, but if he is right than we are a firm contender. Murray, Jokic, and rookie MPj had literally gotten us to the conference finals, despite missing a starter and Millsap obviously being slowed down.

We have a very deep team but a very young team. Bones gets a lot of hype, but NNaji is going into his 3rd year showed to be a dead eye shooter and very good defender prior to getting injured last year, Cancar just re-signed a 3 year minimum deal and is an effective fill in when injuries occur. We just drafted 3 guys and signed a guy to a 2 way who the front office are very high on, Murray theoretically hasn't even hit his prime yet, and of course MPJ has a ton of room for improvement if he can stay healthy. We also always buy a 2nd or two if we need one, and have a history of hitting on those 2nd round picks. We have a young team.

Our biggest problem since Harris and Barton both had injuries de-rail them has been our lack of perimeter defense, Connelly basically ignored that in his time here. I doubt you will find 1 Nuggets fan who would not have traded the 2027 pick for Bruce Brown and a 30th overall pick this year.

While Gordon has been asked to do too much due to the injuries, he makes an amazing 4th guy on a 3 star team, Good defender, can create some on his own, and decent spot up shooter, what more can you ask? Hampton is still struggling in Orlando, Harris finally stayed healthy, and we gave up another pick to get Gordon, but I doubt you will find one Nuggets fan upset about that deal.

Did you know that only 10 players have ever been named to an all nba team after they turned 35 years old? I and several other Nuggets fans would not trade for Durant, even if the cost was MPJ, Bones, and other young guys or picks. Best case scenario is that MPJ returns to who he showed he was and he stays healthy, worst case he injures his back again and ends up having to medically retires, we know that Durant is never going to be better than he was last season, in fact we could argue that he was already shown that he was slowing down, and he gets basically 40% more money than MPJ over the next 4 years, but Durant isn't going to be worth that and you are still stuck paying him until he decides to retire. I would rather take my chances on MPJ and Bones being more productive over the next 4 years.

[ConSarnit]

I honestly don't care anymore. I just want whoever it may be, either the Suns,Heat or Nets to figure it out.
1. Phoenix has the contracts/assets
2. Miami doesn't seem to have the assets the suns do, but KD/Butler/Bam is a mean team.
3. Nets with Kyrie-KD-Simmons could be a terror, he should give it a shot.

And the thing is, with that Kyrie/KD/Simmons team, they have the perfect players around them. Shooters to spread the floor for Simmons along with those other two stars.

Harris, Curry, Mills, O'Neale and then you also have another guy who can be like a 6th type or start and score in all sorts of ways, who added the 3 after not having it for his first few years in TJ Warren. And then Claxton, Cam Thomas and Day'ron Sharpe.

The Suns would be pretty gutted and have no depth. They'd have to rely on Paul, Book, KD and Ayton and while that's a killer lineup, you never know when KD or CP3 go down. They have no real backups. Maybe Crowder will be there.

I think this is the issue most teams will have. You have to gut your team to get KD, yet gutting your team hurts your immediate title chances. BKN also wants picks, so you’re left with very little to acquire the margin pieces you need to replace.

So now you gut your team (at bare minimum your best role players) and you need time to restock those players but you don’t have it because KD has maybe 2 years left of MVP level play?

Teams are probably willing to pay a kings ransom in picks OR players, but not both. BKN wants the Gobert package but unlike Utah they want your starters, not your more replaceable bench guys.

[SinceGatlingWasARookie]

Nets are reportedly asking for a great return in any potential Durant trade. Chris Mannix said the asking price is two All-Star players with lots of picks. Brian Windhorst said a young star and no less than three first round picks. And based on the last reports, the Nets are willing to keep an unhappy Durant if they don't get an offer they like. The Nets are ready to play hardball.

So which team do you think is best positioned to go all-in on Durant? He is considered old and his contract is massive. I would say young lottery teams don't belong in this conversation.

Kevin Durant (age 34)
2022-23 $44,119,845
2023-24 $47,649,433
2024-25 $51,190,021
2025-26 $54,708,608

Nobody should go all in for Durant. KD is not availible. The Idea that KD is available is just a publicity stunt. Nets and KD are in kahoots on this publicity stunt. Nets fans are supposed to get happy when KD comes back. KD is elevating his name to most talked about. Any publicity is good publicity.

[ArksNetsSince99]

The Knicks wouldn't be completely insane if they did it. They could probably build a squad in free agency if they got KD, Brunson/KD/Randle is already pretty solid

Why would Dolan do this ?

He got Brunson , C level talent and it’s enough to sell out garden for half a decade, it’s enough for him and their fans

[God Squad]

I honestly don't care anymore. I just want whoever it may be, either the Suns,Heat or Nets to figure it out.
1. Phoenix has the contracts/assets
2. Miami doesn't seem to have the assets the suns do, but KD/Butler/Bam is a mean team.
3. Nets with Kyrie-KD-Simmons could be a terror, he should give it a shot.

And the thing is, with that Kyrie/KD/Simmons team, they have the perfect players around them. Shooters to spread the floor for Simmons along with those other two stars.

Harris, Curry, Mills, O'Neale and then you also have another guy who can be like a 6th type or start and score in all sorts of ways, who added the 3 after not having it for his first few years in TJ Warren. And then Claxton, Cam Thomas and Day'ron Sharpe.

The Suns would be pretty gutted and have no depth. They'd have to rely on Paul, Book, KD and Ayton and while that's a killer lineup, you never know when KD or CP3 go down. They have no real backups. Maybe Crowder will be there.

Yeah it really would be quite the team on paper, that's why I'm thinking they just run it back. But I agree that the cost for KD isn't really worth it for the majority of teams due to the asking price.

But we can blame Minnesota for that one.

[Pointgod]

Wow is that so?

Denver owes a 2023 first round pick to Charlotte, a 2025 first round pick to Orlando and a 2027 first round pick to OKC.

https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/future_drafts/detailed

"The Stepien Rule" says that an NBA team is prohibited from being without first-round picks in back-to-back years.

Thank you for the link. In that case I think it would be easy to outbid Denver. I'm curious to hear the take of Nugget fans, but to me, it's poor asset management. A team that's so close to contending, and isn't a historical FA destination, should not be this restricted with their future picks, especially considering the return they got for those picks.

Not a Nuggets fan but not necessarily as bad as it seems. They sent the 2023 pick in exchange for RJ Hampton and again it’s going to be a low pick but it’s lottery protected. They traded RJ Hampton along with the 2025 first for Aaron Gordon which was pretty low cost to get him. Trading the 2027 pick just to save money is pretty baffling, especially since that pick is only top 5 protected and they only got the 30th pick in return. I’m sure there were a couple of teams they could have salary dumped to without potentially walking into a buzz saw in 2027.

[God Squad]

Does any fan of their respective teams want to go "all in" on Durant? For the Raptors it's a pass for me. Because they're going to want too much, and I'm not willing to part with Scottie and years worth of draft capital for a potentially disgruntled KD who's been injury prone and about to be 34.

[MotownMadness]

Does any fan of their respective teams want to go "all in" on Durant? For the Raptors it's a pass for me. Because they're going to want too much, and I'm not willing to part with Scottie and years worth of draft capital for a potentially disgruntled KD who's been injury prone and about to be 34.

Denver would be sweet but dont onow how they could pull it off with their good young players so beat up.

Still a Durant/Jokic combo sounds so nice

Edit: just seen you guys were already talking about that in here, thats funny

[Ballerhogger]

Nobody. What they are asking for will gut your bubbling playoff team or contender. Hes has 2 prime years left given his injuries and the decline starts.

[KodiakBear]

Nobody should go all in for a 34 year old injury prone player who was far from great in the playoffs.

[Topofthekey]

How about Kings?

Mitchell + Barnes + Holmes + bunch of picks

Sabonis
Murray
Durant
Huerter
Fox

[Godymas]

No serious franchise looking to win should go in on KD

only an irrelevant franchise desperate for revitalization and relevancy

I'm going to go ahead and say the Wizards should go in on KD. They already tied up their future with Brad Beal and the contract he signed. They have Porzingis to move, brought on Taj Gibson to back up Daniel Gafford. Might as well trade all the picks under the Brad Beal contract, toss in one or two of the young guys. If they can keep Deni but trade Rui and maybe Kispert, give up picks (might require some OKC renegotiation) and Porzingis it makes complete sense. There is nowhere else for this to go other than to be built around Brad Beal and getting KD increases all odds of something halfway decent coming out of this. Wiz are already maxed out on salary, why not just max out on salary on KD. Besides the NY market LOVES Porzingis.

[Van_Trump]

By default the Nets have already gone all in.

I assume going all in means gutting your team of current talent + picks.
Obviously no one should do this.

There wouldn't be enough of a team to fully take advantage of Durant's talent.

[CobraCommander]

The Clippers lowkey should explore trading for both KD & Kyrie. They can offer a deal built around PG13 which is way better than anything else out there that's realistic. Nets get an all-star top 10ish player to stay competitive, while dumping Kyrie in the process. Clips go all-in on Kawhi + KD.

Durant + Irving for George + Jackson + Powell + 2028 first round pick.

Clippers 2023

Irving - Wall
Durant - Mann
Leonard - Kennard
Batum - Morris
Zubac - Covington

Nets 2023

Jackson - Curry
Powell - Harris
George - Warren
Simmons - O'Neale
Claxton - Griffin

I like the idea on paper but trading a guy that’s happy to be there and a great player for 2 malcontents to a team of guys that seem to be harmoniously going about their business? If the clippers have their health they are favorites- why mess with it for two guys that are hurt as often or opt out of games as often as clipper stars AND they are both A-holes?

[Dan Z]

Does any fan of their respective teams want to go "all in" on Durant? For the Raptors it's a pass for me. Because they're going to want too much, and I'm not willing to part with Scottie and years worth of draft capital for a potentially disgruntled KD who's been injury prone and about to be 34.

It'll be interesting to see where the NBA draft is in a few years. A lot of picks have been traded.

[wegotthabeet]

The Clippers lowkey should explore trading for both KD & Kyrie. They can offer a deal built around PG13 which is way better than anything else out there that's realistic. Nets get an all-star top 10ish player to stay competitive, while dumping Kyrie in the process. Clips go all-in on Kawhi + KD.

Durant + Irving for George + Jackson + Powell + 2028 first round pick.

Clippers 2023

Irving - Wall
Durant - Mann
Leonard - Kennard
Batum - Morris
Zubac - Covington

Nets 2023

Jackson - Curry
Powell - Harris
George - Warren
Simmons - O'Neale
Claxton - Griffin

I like the idea on paper but trading a guy that’s happy to be there and a great player for 2 malcontents to a team of guys that seem to be harmoniously going about their business? If the clippers have their health they are favorites- why mess with it for two guys that are hurt as often or opt out of games as often as clipper stars AND they are both A-holes?

solid points. I revised the trade in a later post to include Ben Simmons instead of Kyrie. I now wonder if the Clippers could just get Simmons and keep PG13. I like the Simmons fit on the Clips.

[Crives]

Nobody. What they are asking for will gut your bubbling playoff team or contender. Hes has 2 prime years left given his injuries and the decline starts.

Which means the nets are asking for more then KD is worth… and eventually will accept fair offer if KD continues with his trade request